How preptimely started

We’re two parents in London. UK independent schools weren’t really on our radar — our son started off in the state system here. Words like “11+” or “7+” or “prep school” honestly meant nothing to us. We just had no idea that whole world existed.

A friend put us on to it eventually. It came up in conversation a few times before it really sank in — she talked about preparing for 7+, and how it was different to 11+: tutors, mock papers, the lot. We’d nod along, properly lost — never even heard the term. Eventually she mentioned that some families start preparing from reception. Reception! Their kids are five years old. We were already years behind.

When we wanted to look into it for our son, we’d missed the easier entry points. 7+ was already gone. That’s the gentler route in, with fewer kids going for it and a smaller assessment. We were left with 11+, which is the main entry year for most independent schools, and the most competitive one too. We made it work in the end, but later than hoped.

Our son started in the state system and moved to an independent later because it suited him better. Not that one is better than the other. He spent time at boarding school too, including some stretches when we were overseas. Parents’ evenings in the middle of the night, school admin to deal with at strange hours, that kind of thing.

And here’s the thing. None of this is really laid out anywhere. Schools assume you already know. Guides do too. Most of the parents we asked? In the system or close to it for a long time.

That’s why we built preptimely. A timeline that tells you what matters when, working backwards from the year your child would actually start, with reminders that arrive in time to be useful, not the week before something closes.

It’s the tool we wish we’d had. We use it ourselves now, for our younger one, about to start day school.

If you’re somewhere near the start of this — coming in from the state system, applying from overseas, sending a child to board, or just figuring it out without older siblings to learn from — preptimely is built for you. Most of it’s free, and we hope you find it genuinely useful.

Have a play with it. If something’s off or missing — and there will be — tell us. We read every message that comes through preptimely.co.uk/feedback.